It’s Not Good Transit If the Streets Nearby Aren’t Good for Walking
All transit stops aren't created equal. The street environment around the station -- especially safe, convenient pedestrian access -- has a major influence on how people use transit.
Edward Russell at Greater Greater Washington compares two stops that offer very different walking environments -- one in San Diego and one in Washington:
The 1.1-mile walk from the Grossmont Trolley station in the San Diego suburb of La Mesa to my family's house takes you through a strip mall parking lot, along the six-lane major arterial Fletcher Parkway and then up the overly wide four-lane Jackson Drive before you turn into their neighborhood. It's not pleasant, as the picture above shows.
As a result, my family only drives to the station when they ride the Trolley, and I -- someone who likes to ride transit -- think twice about making the walk when I'm there.
The crazy thing is that this is a comparable distance to what I walk a couple of times a week from the Shaw-Howard U Metro station to my house in Eckington.
What's the difference? The walk in DC is along leafy streets lined with rowhouses in the Le Droit Park and Bloomingdale neighborhoods. Yes, I cross three major roads -- Florida Avenue, and North Capitol Street and Rhode Island Avenue where they meet -- but it is just two intersections, and I do not walk along either street for very long.
The Grossmont stop, Russell says, is "a reminder that simply building transit is not all that it takes to make a suburban neighborhood walkable and generate new transit ridership." What suburbs like La Mesa need to do is rethink not only street design but also car-centric development patterns near transit stations.
Elsewhere on the Network today: Project for Public Spaces reports on a community-based initiative in St. Paul to reconnect neighborhoods that have been disrupted by an old urban freeway. Bike PGH explains how the "Dutch Reach" can help drivers and car passengers avoid dooring cyclists. And The Urbanist says that Seattle is considering ways to fast-track infill development.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
You Wouldn’t Like Monday’s Headlines When They’re Angry
Which state has the worst road rage? Consumer Affairs magazine looked at a variety of factors to come up with an answer.
When it Comes to Federal Infrastructure Grants, Size Does Matter
Cities and municipalities with larger budgets and staff are more likely to win competitive federal infrastructure grants, the Urban Institute has found.
The E-Commerce Explosion is Making Roads More Dangerous
And can advanced technology stop the bloodshed?
Are Friday’s Headlines the New Normal?
Transit ridership hasn't come all the way back from the pandemic, and they're going to need more federal help, along with other changes, says Governing magazine.
Friday Video: How to Make Places Safe For Non-Drivers After Dark
A top Paris pedestrian planner, a leading GIS professional, and Streetsblog's own Kea Wilson weigh in on the roots of America's nighttime road safety crisis, and the strategies that can help end it.
